Strauss-Kahn Case Seen as Near Collapse — The sexual assault case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn is on the verge of collapse as investigators have uncovered major holes in the credibility of the housekeeper who charged that he attacked her in his Manhattan hotel suite in May, according to two well-placed law enforcement officials.

Tim Geithner: 14th Amendment Says Debt ‘Shall Not Be Questioned’ … WASHINGTON — At a briefing with reporters on Wednesday, President Obama was asked whether he believed that the debt ceiling was constitutional or whether the 14th Amendment required the government to meet all of its obligations regardless of the debt-limit statute.

Rep. McCotter to launch presidential bid on July 2 — Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Mich. will launch his presidential campaign on July 2, making him the third sitting member of the House to run for the White House in 2012. — McCotter will make his bid official in his home state of Michigan …

Thad McCotter to join W.H. race Friday — Thaddeus McCotter will file paperwork on Friday to become the eighth Republican candidate for president, a McCotter adviser told POLITICO. — McCotter spent four days in Iowa this week and came away “feeling positive” about his reception, the adviser said.

White House Sees Date for Budget Deal or Bust — WASHINGTON — The White House believes it must strike a budget deal with Congress by July 22 to avoid a risk of defaulting on the national debt, Democratic officials briefed on the negotiations said Thursday, as Senate leaders canceled …

Fund-Raising Begins Slowly for G.O.P. Candidates — Fund-raising by the Republican presidential candidates appears to be off to a slow start this year, hindered by the struggling economy, the absence of a clear and compelling front-runner, and the desire of many of the party's biggest donors to wait and see how the race develops.

Minnesota government begins historic shutdown — Dayton renewed his call to tax the rich; GOP pointed to harm of long-term debt. The governor and legislative leaders worked into the evening in a last-ditch bid for resolution. — Talks imploded Thursday between DFL Gov. Mark Dayton …

Union curbs rescue a Wisconsin school district — “This is a disaster,” said Mark Miller, the Wisconsin Senate Democratic leader, in February after Republican Gov. Scott Walker proposed a budget bill that would curtail the collective bargaining powers of some public employees.

DOJ to probe detainee deaths — The Justice Department has opened full-scale criminal investigations into the deaths of two prisoners in U.S. custody overseas during the Bush era, Attorney General Eric Holder confirmed Thursday. — Holder also announced that he had closed …

Roger Ailes' Secret Nixon-Era Blueprint for Fox News — Republican media strategist Roger Ailes launched Fox News Channel in 1996, ostensibly as a “fair and balanced” counterpoint to what he regarded as the liberal establishment media. But according to a remarkable document buried deep within …

The Wageless, Profitable Recovery — Economists at Northeastern University have found that the current economic recovery in the United States has been unusually skewed in favor of corporate profits and against increased wages for workers. — In their newly released study …

Ohio governor signs law allowing guns in bars — (Reuters) - Ohio Republican Governor John Kasich on Thursday signed into law a bill that allows gun owners in the state to carry concealed weapons into bars and other places where alcohol is served. — The measure, which was forwarded …

Does Johann Hari actually meet his interviewees? — Hari's use of quotes is beyond a joke and much worse than he has made out — If you look at the text below, you'll find an interview with the activist and former Afghan politician Malalai Joya carried out by Johann Hari for the Independent in July 2009.

Confessions of a Financial Deregulator — print recommend Send link clip secure rights — BERKELEY - Back in the late 1990's, in America at least, two schools of thought pushed for more financial deregulation - that is, for repealing the legal separation of investment banking …

Venezuela army assures calm after Chavez surgery — (Reuters) - Venezuela's army chief said on Friday there is no threat to the nation's constitutional order as President Hugo Chavez's revelation of cancer surgery shakes the political system he has dominated since 1999.

Justice Ginsburg reflects on term, leadership role — WASHINGTON — In her new position as the most senior member of the Supreme Court's liberal wing, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has been carving out a more prominent role among the nine justices and intensifying her efforts to influence colleagues.

Hedy Epstein - A Personal Message — My message to Hedy Epstein as she sails to Gaza: … Background information on Hedy Epstein — According to her website, Hedy Epstein calls herself a “Holocaust survivor and a speaker.” She was born in 1924 in Germany; she was an only child.

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